Kiln for burning clay-wares



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. YATES. KILN FOR BURNING CLAY WARES.

Pate'nted'Dec. 3, 1895..

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' (N0 MOGL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

AAIATBS.v l KILN'FOR BURNING ULAY WARES.

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` NITE TO I/VILLIAMV N.

KILN FOR BURNING CLAY-WARES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,707, dated December 3, 1895.

Application led Tune 9, 1892. Serial No. 486,124. (No model.)

To all whom` it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED YATEs, a subject of Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of Arlington, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Kilns for Burning Clay-IV ares, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My present inventionV particularly appertains to and is an improvement on my Patent No. 264,118, dated September 12, 1882, embracing certain novel and useful features not existing therein, said improvements mainly comprising` the following: the combustionchambers in side walls, air-lets therein communicating with said chambers, diifusingblocks with divergent air outlets, muffles within the kiln for reception of wares to be burned, air-inlets to said muffles, passages therefrom to permit the escape of moisture eliminated from the green wares, and also to hasten the cooling of the kiln after burning, the obj ect of my invention Vbeing to burn brick, iiooring-tile, terra-cotta, ceramics, and other wares adapted to be burned in a kiln in a uniform manner as regards quality, density, and color, using coal or hydrocarbons as a fuel. A specific description of these features with their functions will be ascertained through reference to the drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of lmy improved kiln for burning all classes of clay goods. Fig. 2 combines a top and bottom plan to exhibit the exterior and interior arrangement of the same, Fig. 3 being a transverse vertical section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, exhibiting the interior subdivisions with muftle entrances closed. Fig. 4c designates a similar view on line fl 4L of Fig. 2, showing the construction of the fire-holes, combustion-chainbers, and airducts leading thereto and therefrom with muffle-entrances open. Fig. 5 represents an enlarged detail of fire-hole and combustion-chamber from Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal horizontal section of said wall, showing the combustion-chamber and diffusing-block in dotted lines. Fig. 7 illustrates the diffusing-block in cross-section, forming the outlets of the combustion-chambers.

Similar characters designate the same features in the several views,referring to which- A A indicate the side walls, A" the arch or dome, and A2 the bottom, of the kiln, said walls forming the exterior thereof. The vertical flash-walls within the interior of the kiln are designated as A2, inclosin g and forming the muffles B B', wherein are placed the 6o goods which are to be burned by' radiated heat. Said muflles extend the length of the kiln and are provided with entrance-ways C C at one or both ends to admit wares.

Before burning these entrances are temporarily, yet tightly, sealed with coarse masonry technically known as clammings, which allow removal after burning without detriment to the kiln. Said muffles are separated from each other by partition-walls D D, hav- 7o fuel and may be supplied with grates, though I do not deem it advisable, the heat therefrom 8o passing to the interior of the kiln through the iire-slits G, following the direction of the arrows 2, thereby completely Venveloping the outer muiiles B, thence through the series of draft-passages E in the walls D D, surrounding in a similar manner the inner muftles Thence the heated air passes downward into the lower central longitudinal flue I-I, whence it diverges into the lateral ues I (see Fig. 2)

beneath the floor A2, passing into the uptake- 9o ilues J, Fig. 3, converging over the arch or crown A', from thence making its eXit through the chimneys K. I thus secure an economic and most effective circulation of intensely-hot air, while preserving my goods from direct contact with the flame and consequent deterioration from the gases therein.

To control the draft feeding the flame in the fire-holes F, I provide turn-bricks X, ar-

ranged to cover the lire-slits G in the several roo ways shown in Fig. 2 at d d a2 d3, wherein said slits may beV observed open, partially closed, and closed, as the exigencies of the burning may require.

In the varying construction of the muffies previously alluded to those of an increased width B are adjacent to the fire-holes F, which obviously receive a greater degree of heat. I therefore consider it advisable to subject the broader mass of goods to this increase of temperature, while the thinner mass receives the somewhat diminished heat, thereby securing a greater uniformity in the general burning.

It is highly important to thoroughly consume the gases which are set free by iinperfect combustion in the fire-holes. To this end fresh air is introduced into the flame by means of chambers Ii, supplied through passages N by air-inlets M, corresponding in number to the fire-holes, above which they are respectively situated. These chambers are in the inner part of the walls A A and present a broad surface to the action of the iiames and heated air in the contiguous space immediately about the muffies. As the said chambers are thin, the air in them becomes thoroughly heated before passing out of them into the fiames, and is therefore much more efficacious in consuming the obnoxious gases than if it came by a direct unimpeded passage from the atmosphere to the interior of the furnace. The outlet P of the said chamber is at its bottom about equidistant from its two sides and in the saine vertical plane with the inlet M, though slightly below it. The said outlet is adapted to diffuse the air escaping from the said chamber, being formed in a diffusing-block O. Said block is constructed with a convexity (shown in Figs. 5 and 7 on the upper side of the said opening, which tends to divide the fresh heated air passing out ofthe chamber L and to cause it, as indicated in Fig. G, to flow in diverging fan-like streams or currents into the fiame, whereby it is perfectly mixed therewith and performs its office to the best advantage.

The preliminary manipulations of tempering, molding, rbc., I have not described, as. they do not come within the province of thisy invention, beingwell known te those skilled in the art. be dried, they are stacked and arranged in suitable courses to insure a uniform heated circulation within the mufles B B. In the practical operation of burning these green products there is more or less latent moisture which condenses under the pressure of heat and if not allowed to escape deters the burning to a very considerable extent and" affects strength of the wares.

communicating with and above the mufiies B B.

Assuming, then, these goods to v, with and close to the floors of the muffies B B. These are adapted to be opened and closed temp0rarily,as necessity requires,after the manner of the cooling-holes Qpreviously described. I would add here that said muffles permit by my improved construction the assemblage of various classes of wares together to be burned by radiation and to be ventilated during the process of firing, as previously described-a vast and important improvement over theuse of saggers, wherein the wares are hermetically sealed, which prevents the escape of the latent moisture, retards burning, and affects the density and quality of said wares to an appreciable extent.

An important factor in the building of my improved kiln is stability of construction and imperviousness toleakage, to avoid which I create beds of cement concrete, as at T, in the floors and foundation and within the kiln a lining of fire-brick U at suoli points as would be exposed to greatest heat and of which the flash-walls might alsobe composed, the whole suitably bonded, as at e, to impart additional strength.

V designates the channel iron vertical beams set against the outer walls where necessary and united at top-and bottom by metal tie-rods W clam ed in the ordiiiar rmanner to insure stability.

Y is the gutter drain-ing the dome. Having thus described my invention, li de- I sire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States and I claiml. A kiln for burning clay ware provided 1 with a fresh air-inlet M, a diffusing block O :constructed to leave an opening- P for dis- `charging the air in proximity to'one of the mufles and communications between the said inlet and opening, the said block being provided' with a convex lower facefor causing the air that passes through the saidl opening 2. A kiln for burning clay ware constructed f with a central passage or flue II, two or more rows of muff'lcs arranged on each side of the same, partitions dividing thefrows of inuffles 'on each side from each other and provided with openings E, means for supplying het air tothe said? passage through the said openings y around the muffles, and outlet passages from the said central passage substantially as set forth.

3. A kiln constructed to-bu-rn clay-products provided with the chambers L each having an Said openings Q- are arranged to ber air diffusing block and. opening arranged to IOO IIO

ireholes for reception of fuel, all of the said parts being constructed Within the said Wall substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this speeiiieation, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, on this 6th day of J-une, A. D. 1892.

ALFRED YATES.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM E. HUTCHINs, `OHARLEs E. ALLEN. 

